Journal-box hinge pin



W. F. KIESEL, JR. JOURNAL BOX HINGE PIN.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-16. 1921.

Pmmm (Mn 4,

Patented Uet. 2d, TFEZ,

WILLIAM F. KIlESlElL, JR, 0F ALTQONA, PENNSYLVANIA.

JOURNAL-130K HINGE PIN.

Application filed February 16, 1921. Serial No. 445,496.

10 all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM F. Kmsnn, Jr., a citizen of the United States, and residing at Altoona, Blair County, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Jpurnal-Box Hinge Pins, of which the following is a 'struction disclosed in said prior patent the hinge pin includes two resilient arms having curved surfaces for engaging the inner curved surface of the openlngs of the hinge members and the lid of the journal box, said arms being so connected that when the pin is in position iii the lid these arms Wlll be spaced apart more or less. It has been found that this construction is open to certain objections; for example, when a pin of the kind described occupies certain positions the action of the spring used for holding the lid of the journal box tends to compress the two legs of the pin together and pullthe lid awa from the box. This may result in pro ucing an opening between the'lid and the box through which dirt and grit can enter. To overcome this difiiculty it has been found of considerable advantage 'to construct the hinge pin in the following manner. The outer surfaces of the arms are curved to fit the c lindrical openings in the hinge portions 0 the lid and the journal box, and each of said arms is formed of an inner portion which is substantially cylindrical in cross section and an outer portion which is less in cross section than that of the inner portion. The inner portions of the arms are so arranged that they will he in contact with each other when the pin is inserted in the openings and such portions form a substanrdrawing the pin.

tially solid cylindrical member. The outer portions of each of the arms are so arranged as not to contact even when the inner portions are brought together so that such outer portions may be forced toward each other to permit the shoulders thereon to pass through the openings in inserting or with The invention is set forth in detail in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

F igure 1 is a plan View partly in section of a lid and the associated parts of a jour-' nal box having the present invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of my im proved hinge in shown detached from the lid and journa box;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the hinge pin shown in Figure 2;

Figure 1 is a sectional View on the line 4-4= of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to Figure 1 but showing a modified form of pin; and

Figure 6 is a cross sectional View showing the construction of the modified'pin.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 represents the lid of a journal box which is provided with hinge members or cars 12,

such hinge members being provided with. aligned cylindrical openings through which a pivot pin is adapted to be" inserted. The journal box is provided with a lug 13 so shaped as to fit between the ears 12 of the lid, such lug also being provided with a cylindrical openin through which a pivot pin may be inserte it being understood that the openings in the ears 12 of the lug and the lug 13 of the journal box are adapted to be arranged in line so that the pivot pin may be inserted through such openings for securingthe lid to the box. A spring 14 of the usual construction is secured to the lid by means of the rivets 15 or in any suitable manner, such spring being positioned in-an open or closed position.

The hin e pin WhlCll I prefer to employ with the oreg oing construction comprises two arms 16 which are yieldingly connected together at one end andwhich are adapted to be pressed together when the pin is insorted in the openings of the lid and journal box. This pin includes an enlarged portion or head 17 which is adapted to limit the insertion of the pin in the openings. Each of the arms 16 comprise two portions 18 and- 18. Each of the portions 18 of the pin is substantially semicylindrical in cross section and each of such semi-cylindrical portions 18 extends from the base of the arm, that is, from a point adjacent the head 17 of the pin outwardly to a point preferably some distance beyond the middle of the arms, such llO latter point being designated by the letter A. The result is that when the portions 18 of the pin are brought into contact there is formed a substantially cylindrical body which is rigid and which will not yield when pressure is applied to the outer surfaces of the arms of the pin.

The outer portions 18 of each of the arms gradually decrease in cross sectional area from the point A outwardly to the end of the arms. These outer portions of the arms are more or less resilient; so that the same may be pressed toward each other and one or both, preferably both, of said portions is provided with a shoulder 19 on its outer surface which shoulders are adapted to contact with the wall adjacent the end of the openings and restrict longitudinal movement of the pin in the openings after the same has been placed in position. The outer ends 18 of the arms being resilient it will be understood that the same may be pressed together to permit insertion or withdrawal of the pin, and it will also be apparent that when the pin is placed in position in the openings the shoulders 19 on one end and the head 17 on the other will serve ,to restrict movement of the same relative to the parts in which it is arranged.

The pin may be constructed of solid material as shown in Figure 4 or, if desired, the same may be struck up from sheet metal, as illustrated in Figure 6, it being understood that in each form of construction the inner and outer portions 18, 18 of the arms are formed in the manner heretofore described.

While my improved pin may be useful in various relations it is of particular value in the relation described and illustrated. It may be easily and quickly applied, the use of fastening keys is unnecessary, and loss of the pins with consequent loss of the lids and injury of the journals from dust and dirt is avoided. In addition to these advantages, the spring action of the arms causes the outer surfaces thereof to closely engage the openings in which the pins are mounted thus preventing noise and rattling and wear of the parts, common in the old forms of construction. Furthermore, it is important that the lid of a journal box be held in close contact with the surface of the box itself so that the entrance of dirt and grit will be prevented. A pin constructed as above described practically fills the cylindrical opening in one ear of the lid and also practically fills the opening in the lug of the journal box throughout a large portion of its length. Where the pin thus fills the opening into which it is inserted it serves to effectively prevent any relative motion between the lid and journal box and such a construction also greatly decreases any tendency to deflection which might exist in the outer yielding portions 18 of the pin. Inother words, with a pin constructed as heretofore described the diameter of the pin from a point adjacent the head 17 to a point A will be substantially the same as the openings in which it is insertedand while the outer ends of such a pin may be compressed when desired, such compression will not readily take place under ordinary conditions because the yielding portions 18 are-short and because any movement of the lid tending to compress such portions will be resisted by the close fit of the rest of the pin in the openings.

Having thus described the invention what I- claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a journal box construction, a lid having spaced ears secured thereto, a lug secured to the journal box and arranged between said ears, said ears and lug having aligned cylindrical openings, a hinge pin arranged in said opening and having an enlar ed portion or head to limit the extent to which the pin may be inserted in the .openings, said pin comprising two arms yieldingly connected together at one end and adapted to be pressed into contact, each of said arms being substantially semi-cylindrical in cross section throughout the major portion of its length whereby a cylindrical body of substantially the same diameter as said openings is formed, when said arms are pressed together, said cylindrical portion extending through one of said ears and the major portion of said lug, each of said arms adjacent its free end having a portion which is less in cross sectional area than that of the aforementioned portions of the arm, a

shoulder on the outer surface of one at least of said last named portions for restricting longitudinal movement of the pin in said openings, said lastnamed shouldered portion being resilient to permit the same to be pressed toward the other portion when said pin is inserted in or withdrawn from said openings.

2. In a journal box construction, a lid having spaced ears secured thereto, a lug secured to the journal box and arranged between said ears, said ears and lug having aligned cylindrical openings, a hinge pin arranged in said opening and having an enlarged portion or head to limit the extent to which the pin may be inserted in the openings, said pin comprising two arms yieldingly connected at one end and adapted to be pressed into contact, each of said arms being substantially semi-cylindrical in crosssection throughout approximately one half of its length whereby a cylindrical body of substantially the same diameter as said openings is formed when said arms are pressed together, each of said arms adjacent its free end having a portion which is eaaaae I less in cross sectional area than the rest of the arm, a shoulder on the outer surface of one at least of said last named portions for restricting longitudinal movement of the pin in said openings, said last named portions being resilient to permit the same to be pressed toward each other when said pin is inserted in or withdrawn from said openings.

3. A hinge pin for journal boxes comprising two arms yielding-1y connected to each other at one end and adapted to be brought into contact, each of said arms including an inner portion which is substantially semicylindrical in cross section and which portions extend outwardly from a point adjacent the base of the arms to a point adjacent signature.

WILLIAM F. KJUESEL, JR. 

